The Father’s Heart

The heart of the matter

How does one approach the subject of the Father’s Heart when, obviously being incorporeal, we can not envisage it? This is where Webster can help us to understand. Besides the obvious definition relating to the physical organ that supplies blood to the body, there are other meanings that supply more than sufficient concepts to help our understanding of the Father’s Heart.

The Latin word for heart is cor, cordis. So many English words come from this Latin root that, seeing a list of them, shows their relevancy in understanding the Father’s Heart. Along with the word “heart” itself, they point to 1) the central part of something; 2) the most important or basic part of something, and 3) central inner most part of something. So when asking a question such as, “What does your heart tell you?” You are wanting to know the very essence of that person’s thoughts, or actions, and so on. Relevant to that is wanting to know the core of the matter. A picture emerges, then, regarding the Father’s Heart. We are dealing with what is central, innermost, basic, and essential, regarding the Personhood of the Eternal Father.

Love

“God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them” (John 4:16). This definition of God by John the evangelist clearly shows us the innermost, important, central, and basic attribute of God: namely, a description of His Heart as the core of His Being. Because it is “poured out love,” it is merciful. It is with Scripture, the Word of God, that we can deepen and expand our understanding of the nature of God’s Heart, as in Thompson’s Hound of Heaven we can hear the sound not of God’s footsteps but of heartbeats, pursuing us to answer His call of love.